Lucknow: In a significant step towards promoting skill development and youth empowerment, the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) on Wednesday organised a grand felicitation ceremony to honour the state-level winners of the India Skills Competition 2025–26. The event was held at the UPSDM headquarters in Lucknow, where 40 outstanding participants from 20 different skill trades were awarded prizes and certificates for their exceptional performance.
Held under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the programme reflected the state government’s commitment to making youth self-reliant, employment-oriented, and globally competitive. The ceremony was conducted under the guidance of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Kapil Dev Agarwal.
Two Winners Honoured from Each Skill Trade
The awards were presented by Principal Secretary Dr Hari Om and Mission Director Pulkit Khare in the presence of senior officials from the Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department. Two winners from each skill trade were honoured for demonstrating excellence, dedication, and technical proficiency, bringing recognition to the state through their achievements.
Government Committed to Enhancing Youth Skills
Interacting with the award-winning participants, Principal Secretary Dr Hari Om discussed their training experiences, competition journey, and future aspirations. He emphasised that the Uttar Pradesh government is firmly committed to equipping young people with modern, industry-relevant skills aligned with global standards. He noted that such competitions foster a healthy competitive spirit and provide a pathway for youth to reach national and international platforms.
Winners to Participate in Special Boot Camp
Mission Director Pulkit Khare stated that the state-level skills competition serves as a powerful platform for identifying and nurturing talent, encouraging youth to become self-reliant while preparing them for higher-level competitions. He informed that all selected winners will participate in a special boot camp in Lucknow, where they will receive expert training in preparation for the North Regional Skills Competition. Additional Mission Director Priya Singh highlighted that skill development is a key instrument for youth empowerment, and the mission remains focused on delivering high-quality training.
Growing Participation Reflects Strong Skill Ecosystem
The World Skills Competition, held once every two years, has seen a remarkable rise in participation from Uttar Pradesh. While 7,472 candidates registered in 2024, registrations for 2026 surged to 1,09,249, making Uttar Pradesh the state with the highest number of registrations in the country. Participation has expanded from 10 skill trades in 2024 to 20 trades this year, marking substantial progress in the state’s skill development landscape. Additionally, the competition, earlier held at a single centre, was conducted this year across 11 centres in Lucknow, with 1,270 participants taking part.
During the programme, a Social Media Cell was also launched to enhance public outreach of the mission’s activities. Furthermore, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged with the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) to further strengthen quality training initiatives.
Senior officials, including ITOT Director D.K. Singh, NIESBUD Noida Director Shivani Dey, Joint Director Mayank Gangwar, Finance Controller Sandeep Kumar, Assistant Directors Dr M.K. Singh and Dr Pavitra Tandon, DDU-GKY COO Ashish Kumar, along with mission officers and district-level representatives, were present at the event.
